Free Places to Visit in Turin as a Student

Turin may not receive as much attention as Rome or Florence, but for students, that is part of its appeal. The city feels less crowded, there is no pressure to visit everything at once, and some of the best free places to visit in Turin are also its most memorable. Many of its top attractions are completely free.

In a single day, you could visit a royal palace in the morning, spend the afternoon in an 83-hectare park and walk beneath Turin's historic arcades in the evening without paying an entrance fee. The city has around 18 km of porticoes, one of the longest covered arcade networks in Europe, connecting many of its central squares, streets and landmarks.

In this guide, you will discover museums, parks, churches, viewpoints and famous landmarks, along with a few practical tips to help you plan your visit. Have a look!

Why free places matter more here 💶

Turin has a large and international student community, thanks to its two main universities. The University of Turin has around 81,000 students, including almost 5,000 from outside Italy. The Politecnico di Torino has a further 37,000 students, and almost one in five of them is international.

With more than 100,000 students living and studying in the city, keeping everyday costs under control is important. The main student housing costs in Turin usually take up the largest share of a monthly budget, while most students spend around €700 to €900 per month, generally less than in Milan or Rome.

Even with lower living costs, the amount left for social activities can be limited, especially during your first few months in the city. Free museums, parks and landmarks make it easier to explore Turin without giving up the rest of your budget.

Transport can reduce costs further. Since the 2025/26 academic year, university students under 26 with an ISEE up to €85,000 can travel for free on Turin's buses, trams and metro using the regional Piemove card. This makes many of the free places in this guide even easier to reach.

Free museums in Turin 🖼️

Besides being one of the best cities to study in Italy, Turin is home to some of the best museums in Italy, and many of them can be visited for free if you choose the right day. So whether you're still learning to budget at university or simply prefer to spend less, take a look at the spots we've gathered for you!

Free on the first Sunday of the month

On the first Sunday of every month, hundreds of state-run museums and archaeological sites across Italy take part in Domenica al Museo, offering free entry to visitors.

In Turin, participating museums include:

• Musei Reali, where you can visit the Royal Palace, the Royal Armoury and the Galleria Sabauda in the same complex.
• Villa della Regina, a Baroque villa on the hillside, surrounded by terraced gardens overlooking the city.
• The Museum of the Risorgimento, located inside Palazzo Carignano.

It is worth arriving early, as free Sundays can get busy. The Musei Reali, in particular, often have queues by mid-morning.

Free every day

Some places in Turin are free throughout the week, so you do not need to wait for the first Sunday of the month.

The Giardini Reali and the Biblioteca Reale, both part of the Museu Reali complex, can be visited free of charge whenever they are open.

In Borgo Campidoglio, you can also explore the MAU, Turin's open-air museum. It features more than 200 artworks painted directly onto the façades of local buildings by over 100 artists and it is completely free to visit at any time.

Parks and green spaces in Turin 🌳

With the Alps on the horizon and the Po flowing through the city, Turin has plenty of green spaces where you can walk, cycle, study outdoors or simply take a break from university life. Two parks are particularly worth visiting.

1 - Parco del Valentino

 Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torino,parco_del_Valentino%2801%29.jpg Alt: parco-del-valentino-turin

Stretching along the Po, just a short distance from the city centre, Parco del Valentino is one of Turin's most popular green spaces.

Inside the park, you will find the Borgo Medievale, a reconstruction of a 15th-century village created for the 1884 Italian General Exhibition. You can walk through its narrow streets and courtyards for free.

The courtyard of the Castello del Valentino is also free to visit. The building now houses the architecture department of the Politecnico di Torino, but its elegant exterior and riverside setting still make it worth seeing.

2 - Parco della Pellerina

To the west of the centre, Parco della Pellerina is even larger and is considered one of the biggest urban parks in Italy.

The Dora Riparia river runs through the park, creating plenty of space for walking, cycling and relaxing outdoors. It attracts far fewer visitors than Parco del Valentino, so it is a good choice when you want a quieter afternoon away from the busiest parts of the city.

The tram journey is worth it, especially if you are looking for somewhere that feels more local and less touristy.

3 - Paths along the Po

The paths along the Po are also worth exploring. You can walk or cycle from the Murazzi embankment, past Parco del Valentino and towards Parco Michelotti at any time of day.

This riverside route is one of the easiest ways to travel between the university area and Turin's hills while enjoying the city without spending anything.

Free landmarks and views 📍

And we can't forget that some of the best free things to see in Turin do not even require a ticket. In many cases, all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and a little time to explore.

Piazza San Carlo

Often known as Turin's drawing room, Piazza San Carlo is an elegant Baroque square surrounded by arcades, historic cafés and two matching churches at its southern end.

It is a good place to begin exploring the centre, as many of Turin's main streets and landmarks are within easy walking distance. Take a moment to stand in the middle of the square and look around, as it gives you a clear sense of the city's grand and orderly layout.

Duomo di San Giovanni Battista

The Duomo di San Giovanni Battista is Turin's main cathedral and the home of the Shroud of Turin, one of Christianity's most discussed religious relics.

Entry to the cathedral is free every day. You will only need a ticket if you want to visit the Diocesan Museum or access the Chapel of the Holy Shroud as part of the Royal Museums route.

Basilica di Superga

Set on a hill overlooking the city, the Basilica di Superga is free to enter and is well worth the journey for the views alone.

There is a charge to climb the dome or visit the Royal Tombs, but you can enjoy the basilica and the outdoor viewpoint without paying. On a clear day, the panorama stretches across Turin towards the Alps, making it one of the most memorable views in the city.

Gran Madre di Dio

Across the Po from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the neoclassical church of Gran Madre di Dio stands at the end of Via Po's covered arcades.

The church is free to enter, while the steps outside are a popular place to sit and watch the evening light over the river. It is an especially good stop around sunset, when the surrounding hills and city streets begin to light up.

The Mole Antonelliana, from the outside

You do not need to go inside to appreciate the Mole Antonelliana, Turin's most recognisable landmark.

The panoramic lift and the National Cinema Museum require a ticket, but admiring the building from the street is completely free. For some of the best views, head to Piazza Vittorio Veneto or cross the river and look back from the hills.

Why Yugo? Your home in Turin, sorted before you land

Settling into a new city is much easier when your accommodation is already taken care of. Instead of searching for a room, contacting landlords and trying to understand rental contracts from abroad, you can arrive in Turin knowing that your new home is ready.

Yugo has a student residence in Turin designed to make this part of the move simpler.

• Bills included, with internet, water and electricity covered in your rent.
• Furnished rooms ready from day one, so you only need to bring your belongings.
• Social spaces and study areas where you can relax, work and meet other students.
• An on-site team available whenever you need support.
• A global student community, with people from different countries living under the same roof.
• Safety and security 24/7, giving you extra peace of mind.
• The Live Your Best Life programme, with events, workshops and activities that help you settle in, meet people and make the most of student life in Turin.

Making a free week actually work 🗓️

You do not need to plan every detail in advance, but a few simple habits can help you make the most of Turin's free attractions.

Check the Domenica al Museo calendar before organising your week, as dates and opening arrangements may change around public holidays.

A good Sunday plan is to visit the Musei Reali in the morning, then spend the afternoon in Parco del Valentino. Both are easy to reach from Piazza Castello and the walk between them takes around 15 minutes.

Apply for your Piemove transport card as soon as you complete your university enrolment. Processing can take a few weeks, so starting early means you will be able to use buses, trams and the metro sooner.

It is also worth carrying your student ID with you. Some free attractions may ask to see it and you will need it to access student discounts whenever you decide to visit a paid attraction, such as the panoramic lift inside the Mole Antonelliana.

Ready to make Turin home? 🏠

Book your accommodation before term begins, so you can spend your first free Sunday exploring instead of searching for a room. Have a look!